Hit and run driver lives in my building — now their insurer is saying it never happened??

"Standing behind their insured" is classic adjuster-speak for we're going to make this as painful as possible until you give up or accept a lowball offer. They're betting you don't know your rights. Don't recorded-statement with them without understanding what that can do to your claim — they will use anything you say to poke holes in your account later.

I used to work on the carrier side and I'll be honest — when a third-party claim comes in disputed, the default move is to protect the policyholder until there's enough evidence to force a different outcome. A police report helps a LOT but adjusters will still look for any ambiguity to exploit. Your photos and that witness are genuinely valuable. Get a written statement from the witness if you haven't already, even just a text you screenshot. Documented evidence changes the math for them internally.

Almost identical thing happened to me — other driver disputed everything even though I had photos showing the paint transfer. Their insurer dragged it out for weeks. Eventually I went through my own insurance (I had collision coverage) just to get my car fixed, and my insurer went after theirs to recover costs. It's annoying because of the deductible, but it got things moving. Might be worth checking if that's an option for you.

A few things worth knowing: a police report isn't conclusive proof of fault in the eyes of an insurance company, but it's meaningful — especially if the officer noted anything about the other driver's condition or behavior at the scene. Also, since this person literally lives in your building, there may be a paper trail (property records, lease info) that connects them to that vehicle registration. That kind of corroboration can matter. Keep all your documentation organized and timestamped.

Not legal advice, but what you're describing — a documented hit and run, a police report, photographic evidence, and a witness — is a pretty solid foundation. The fact that their insurer is calling it 'disputed' doesn't mean you're in a weak position; it means they haven't decided to pay yet. A PI attorney can often get things moving faster because carriers know litigation costs money. Most do free consultations, so it costs you nothing to hear what your options are.

Are you doing okay physically? Sometimes the adrenaline from all the insurance drama masks soreness or stiffness that shows up days later — especially neck and back stuff. If anything feels off, please see a doctor and get it documented now, not in two weeks. That gap in treatment can be used against you if there's any injury component to your claim.

Stop talking to their adjuster without representation. Full stop. You've already filed the report, you have the evidence — there's nothing more informal conversation with them will help you accomplish. It only gives them more chances to find something to use against you.

The fact that this person lives in your building makes this so much more stressful, I imagine. Like you can't even come home without potentially running into them. I really hope you get this resolved quickly — you didn't do anything wrong and you deserve to have your car fixed without all this runaround.

Quick question — did the officer actually cite the other driver or just take statements? And when you say the adjuster implied it's disputed, did they say the other driver is claiming you hit them, or just that they can't verify the facts? That distinction matters a lot for what your next move should be.